Co Down had temperatures higher than Mediterranean hotspots such as Barcelona, Rome and Athens on Saturday.

The mercury hit 17.5C (63.5F) in Murlough, Co Down, which is the highest temperature for 2015 so far. Santon Downham in Suffolk followed closely behind with 17.3C (63.14F). Scotland also enjoyed its warmest weather so far in Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire, which got up to 15.9C (60.62F).

The previous record this year was set in Exeter on January 9 when temperatures reached 16.5C (63.5F) .

Craig Snell, forecaster at the Met Office, said: "It has been very pleasant day for many parts of the UK.

"Most of the country has seen the warmest day of the year with the exception of western Scotland, where it has been quite wet.

"As we go through tomorrow the rain will clear Scotland and make its way south towards England and Wales.

"Temperatures will return to around average, with highs of 10C (50F) to 11C (51.8F), cooling off a little bit but still not cold by any means.

"As we go into Sunday night it will be cold, with temperatures close to freezing in many spots if the sky is clear."

The balmy spring weather is not expected to last too long, as the Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning for wind for the north of the province from Monday morning to Tuesday morning.

Gusts are expected to reach around 60/70mph, with the potential to get up to 80mph in the most exposed parts of western and northern Scotland.